meet our staff
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Elise Linke - Building Consultant
Elise started her building industry career at Hickinbotham 2.5 years ago, starting out in the administration department. Eager to progress to a sales role, Elise learnt as much as she could about the industry and completed her real estate sales certificate, landing a Building Consultant role after only 15 months." Since then she hasn't looked back, increasing her earning potential substantially and helping many South Australians achieve their dream of building a home. The most enjoyable part of my job is meeting people and assisting them build their own home, making sure they get the most suitable home for their needs at an affordable price, she says. Another huge highlight was when one of my clients came in with a beautiful bunch of flowers to thank me for the assistance and advice I had provided her with. Despite being a Building Consultant for only 15 months Elise has already purchased an investment property, a new car and enjoyed a couple of holiday's interstate. But that's not to say it's been an easy slog. The role is demanding at times and the busy periods tend to come in waves, she says. You need to be prepared to work weekends and there is considerable after hours work preparing contacts, talking to clients and following up phone calls. However, I enjoy the freedom that comes with working my own hours " though I put in approximately 50 hours a week, I am pretty much my own boss. It's a bit like having your own business in that you get as much out of the position as you put in. According to Elise, selling a great product makes her job much easier. Hickinbotham is a great family company and an extremely reputable builder with a great name in the industry " they are definitely number one for price and quality, she says. It gives me a great deal of confidence to be selling a quality product and I know the back-up and support will always be there. Elise suggests good people skills, a knowledge of the building industry, being prepared to work long hours and belief in the product you are selling, are crucial to success as a Building Consultant. |
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Patrick McAuley - Supervisor Building Supervisor Patrick McAuley is responsible for supervising the construction of Hickinbotham homes, from commencement of building through to handover. This includes coordinating tradespeople and suppliers to complete the project to plan and contract specifications within time, budget and customer constraints. Patrick previously worked at a contracted supplier, and was familiar with several members of the management and office staff. He was drawn to Hickinbotham two years ago by their professionalism and status within the housing industry. There is rarely a tedious moment, there are always trades to allocate, issues to attend to, anomalies to interpret from architectural and engineered drawings, properties to inspect and customer service enquiries to attend to, he says. Patrick describes the culture at Hickinbotham as fast-paced and professional, and says he enjoys the after hours social life, such as awards evenings, monthly charities and footy tipping competitions. The best part about working at Hickinbotham though, according to Patrick, is being part of a team that produces the best value homes money can buy. Working under the banner of an instantly recognizable and award winning brand " Hickinbotham " promotes a sense of security, expertise and satisfaction for anyone, from first home buyers and expanding families, to retirees and developers in the home building market, he says. |
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Christine Bradshaw - Contracts Administrator The resignation of a friend who worked at Hickinbotham presented a great opportunity for Christine Bradshaw. We had worked together for another builder and she was always telling me how much better Hickinbotham was, in terms of procedures and overall working environment, she says. When she left to travel around Australia, I applied for her position and luckily was successful. Fifteen years later and Christine continues to enjoy her work at Hickinbotham, which sees her checking and accepting building files on behalf of the company. She says that selling ..a terrific product and the great team environment are the best parts of working at Hickinbotham. Everyone is very supportive and willing to put their hand up to help out, she says. It's a family business, so they really look after their staff. Management encourages everyone to put forward ideas on how we can improve " they're willing to listen. And Hickinbotham has provided me with the opportunity to work in many different areas of the pre-construction and construction process, so the experience I've gained has been invaluable. We are always looking at new ways to improve our product and our customer service " that's why we're the market leader. |
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Cassie Ostle - Estate Manager Having the chance to undertake an exciting job and gain remarkable experience for someone my age, while completing full-time uni, is an exceptional opportunity, says Cassie Ostle. I enjoy the environment within our office and understand I am learning skills that will be a great asset when I move into my chosen field at the completion of my study. Since joining Hickinbotham in late 2005, Cassie " who is studying a double degree of Laws and Legal Practice and Arts " has gained experience in a wide range of roles. I have also coordinated the quotes department and assisted with the coordination of jobs being released to construction, as well as hand-over appointments once clients' homes are completed. This involves a great deal of interaction with staff, clients and suppliers. She decided to join Hickinbotham to gain an understanding of the corporate world and gain experience in an office environment. Hickinbotham is a well-known company with a strong reputation in South Australia, and has afforded me the opportunity to progress through many areas of the organisation, she says. Describing the company culture as energetic and motivated, Cassie says the work she does at Hickinbotham is a significant stepping stone to her future. As a potential solicitor communication skills are a vital tool. I have been given the chance to communicate with companies and clients on a range of topics and realise the importance of working within a productive team. So would she recommend Hickinbotham to other students? Hickinbotham has been very accommodating to my study timetable, allowing me to attend university while maximising my working hours. |
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Hickinbotham is totally committed to offering the best value homes in South Australia. We define value as a beautifully designed, well built home, backed up by professional service at a highly competitive price. Don't let another builder sell you on less is more, when you can have more for less with Hickinbotham.